Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP COL OR07’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by small decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, bronze inflorescences with a darker red center, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the second week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP COL OR07’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP COL OR07’ is a product of a cross between the maleparent ‘Forza Orange’ and the female parent ‘Medonia Red’ (neither areunder patent in the United States). The new cultivar was discovered andselected by Dirk Pieters in September of 2001 in Oostnieuwkerke,Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP COL OR07’ by terminalcuttings was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard, Calif.,and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stableand reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP COL OR07’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PPP COL OR07.’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘PPP COL OR07’ as a new and distinctChrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Small, bronze decorative-type inflorescences with a darker        red center;    -   2. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the second        week of September;    -   3. Free branching habit; and    -   4. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming        consistently after 49 days of short day length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP COL OR07’ are similar to plants of themale parent variety, ‘Forza Orange’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP COL OR07’ aretaller and wider. Also, the male parent ‘Forza Orange’ has moreinflorescences per lateral branch. Additionally, ‘PPP COL OR07’ has asmaller inflorescence diameter and the ray florets are more orange thanthe ray florets of the male parent. Finally, ‘PPP COL OR07’ blooms threeto four weeks earlier than the male parent ‘Forza Orange.’

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP COL OR07’ are similar to plants of thefemale parent variety, ‘Medonia Red’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP COL OR07’ areshorter. Also, the new cultivar ‘PPP COL OR07’ has a biggerinflorescence diameter. Additionally, ‘PPP COL OR07’ has moreyellow-orange ray florets compared to the red ray florets of the femaleparent. Finally, ‘PPP COL OR07’ naturally blooms a month earlier than‘Medonia Red.’

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘PPP CON OR05’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 18,094), ‘PPP COL OR07’ is smaller in both height andplant spread. Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP COL OR07’ has a smallerinflorescence. Further, the inflorescences of the new variety ‘PPP COLOR07’ are greyed-orange with a dark red center compared to the brightorange inflorescences of the comparable variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘PPP COL OR07’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used inthe pot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘PPP COL OR07’ plants grown in Oxnard, VenturaCounty, Calif., during the months of May through October 2006. Thegrowing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘PPP COL OR07.’-   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.-   Height: Approximately 16 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 30 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free Branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 11 cm.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 25.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 140 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A.            Young foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B. Mature            foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage            under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:            Near Green 138B. Venation color under side: Near Green 138C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Near Green 138B.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than            13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length            required to induce and develop blooms.        -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.        -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the second week in            September.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately            6.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 3.8 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 28 to 31            days.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—210.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Greyed-Purple            185A. Upper surface at maturity: Near Greyed-Orange 167A            with shades of near Yellow 9A rising up in longitudinal            lines from the base. Upper surface at fading: Near            Greyed-Orange 167B with shades of near Yellow 9A rising up            in longitudinal lines from the base. Under surface at first            opening: Near Greyed-Purple 185A. Under surface at maturity:            Near Greyed-Red 171A with shades of near Yellow 9A rising up            in longitudinal lines from the base. Under surface at            fading: Near Greyed-Orange 167C with shades of near Yellow            9A rising up in longitudinal lines from the base. Center ray            florets: Near Greyed-Red 181A throughout maturity and            fading.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 8.        -   Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow-Green 154C. At            maturity: Near Yellow 13A. At fading: Near Yellow 13A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 9.2 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—Acute.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Green 138B.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Form.—Globular.        -   Color.—Near Greyed-Purple 185A.-   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 28.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green            137B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9A.        -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1D.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Stamens.—Absent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 13A.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1D.        -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.        -   Anther shape.—Tubular.        -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 13A.        -   Pollen color.—Near Yellow 13A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low    temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the    approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of    cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants    are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP COLOR07’ as herein illustrated and described.